Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has implemented the Health Promoting University (HPU) initiative to enhance its academic community’s mental health and well-being. This initiative, launched in 2019, aims to create a supportive campus environment that fosters optimal mental health for students, faculty, and staff.
A key initiative from the Mental Health Division in HPU UGM is the Kampus Sejahtera Program (Well-being Campus) system, which encourages mutual support, positive appreciation, and motivation among all campus members. This program aims to help individuals recognise their abilities, manage life pressures, work productively, and contribute to society. The Mental Health Division is also responsible for establishing mental health services across faculties, with trained first responders among students, faculty, and staff. To prepare for this, they organise workshops and training sessions to promote mental health awareness and equip individuals with skills to support others. For example, the university has conducted workshops on creating a well-being campus and training for mental health first aiders. In order to implement effective mental health strategies and guarantee that their programs are tailored to the needs of students and staff, the division initiates collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and international experts.
An important unit in UGM that promotes mental health and provides psychological support to individuals and organisations within and beyond the university community is the Psychology Consultation Unit. This Psychology Consultation Unit (UKP) was established in 1970 under the Faculty of Psychology. Its primary mission is to provide comprehensive, professional, and ethical psychological services to the community.
Services offered by UKP UGM include individual counselling, that is, personalised counselling sessions for adults and children, addressing various psychological concerns to promote mental well-being. They also offer educational and school assistance, which are unit assessments and interventions related to educational settings, such as cognitive testing and support for learning difficulties. Family and relationship counselling is also available for couples and families to navigate relational challenges, with the aim of improving communication and resolving conflicts. The unit extends its expertise to corporations and organisations by offering psychological assessments, employee assistance programs, and workshops to enhance workplace well-being.
Besides the UKP, the university also provides a Crises Center. Several UGM Faculties or Schools also provide career and mental health consultation services as part of their mental health system (see the Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Psychology, and Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing).
Of course, there are still many challenges in facing mental health. The university understands there remains stigma around seeking mental health support that discourages many individuals from reaching out to therapists. Subsequently, those that do wish to seek support are often unsure where to start. That is why UGM also provides a mental health platform known as ChatBot Lintang. Launched on July 26, 2023, by UGM’s Rector, Professor Ova Emilia, the chatbot serves as a communication channel for students, faculty, and staff to discuss mental health issues and incidents of violence.
Chatbot Lintang offers four main services to support mental health. Psychoeducation provides essential information about mental health, disorders, symptoms, and self-help strategies to raise awareness and educate users. Mental Health Tips delivers practical advice on relaxation, stress management, and emotional wellness to promote mental well-being. The chatbot also allows Self Assessment for users to conduct a self-assessment through initial screenings and receive recommendations based on their responses. Finally, the Service Directory connects users with mental health resources at UGM, including professional counselling, support groups, and emergency services. These services ensure accessible and comprehensive mental health support.
References:
- Optimal mental health for students, faculty, and staff
- Psychology Consultation Unit (UKP)
- Crises Center
- Faculty of Biology
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Economics and Business
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing
- ChatBot Lintang